Individual Details

Archer was baptized 16 Jun 1782 at St. James Northam. The Douglas Register.

This Archer Pledge still in Virginia 1820-1840, although about the right age might be a different Archer Pledge The plaque on the gates to the cemetery in Hardiman Co TN states that Archer was the first settler in the area and gave the land for the cemetery in 1818. The problem with this is that he had children marrying in Powhatan VA, ca 1830.

The only Archer Pledge I found in the 1820 census was in Powhaten Co, VA, Scottville. He was the right age - between 26 and 45. There were more children than later identified or perhaps two families living together. Found in his household:
2 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 16-26, and one male 26-45; 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-16, and 2 females 26-45.
In 1830 there was again an Archer Pledge in Powhaten Co.
There was 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, and 1 male 40-50 [Archer would have been 48.]
Females included 2 under age 5, 1 female 5-10, 1 females 10-15, 1 female 15-20, 2 females 20-30, and 1 female age 30-40.
In 1840, Archer Pledge was found in Cumberland Co VA.
1 male age 15-20, 1 male 20-30, and 1 male 50-60 [correct age for Archer].
2 females age 10-15, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30, 2 females 30-40, and 1 female 40-50.
Counted next door was
Absalom S. Pledge, 1 male under 5, 1m 20-30; 1 female 5-10, 1 female 20-30


1850, Fayette Co TN, Hh 1685
Archer Pledge, 68, farmer, b. VA
Elizabeth, 58, b. VA
Elizabeth, 32, b. VA
Millyora S. Pledge, 22, b. VA
Hh 1686
Francis L. Pledge, age 30, carpenter, b. VA
Sarah [Sarah Chatwood according to online databases], age 28, b. VA
Children born in Virginia: Dewit C., age 8. William 5. Mary 4.
Nancy, age 2, born in Tennessee
William Pledge, age 26, carpenter, b. VA
Elvira, age 24 [Elvira Yancey, daughter of Joel Yancey], b. NC
Alfred Woodson, age 28, teacher, b. VA
Nancy, age 1, b. TN
Sally Garthwright, age 49, b. VA
Hh 1687
Smith Pledge, age 48, overseer, b. BA
Eliza [Elizabeth Tally according to online databases] 43, b. VA
Children all said born Virginia: John 12, Elizabeth 10, Franklin 6, and George age 2.

By 1860, the families were in Junction District, Junction P.O., Hardeman Co. TN, Hh 15
Elizabeth Pledge, age 69, b. VA
M. S. B., age 31, female, b. VA [must be MillyOra S. in 1850]
Sarah Woodson, age 59, b. VA
E. Woodson, female, age 11, b. TN.
[this entry may continue on the next page but there is a missing page - the next household in the images is Hh 20....]

Hh 24, Junction District, Junction P.O.:
F. L. Pledge, age 39, M. Carpenter [master carpenter?] b. VA
Sarah J., 38, b. VA
Born in Virginia: Dewit C. 17, Wm. F. 14, Mary A. 13,
Born in Tennessee: Nancy J. 11, Susan E. 9, Sarah M. 5, Maggie M. 9/12
[they appear to have a boarding or bunk house because the following are all listed in the same household with Francis and family]
M. Obrion, male, age 35, teacher C.S., b. New Jersey
Leonora T.D., age 19, b. Miss.
Thomas M. Reeser, age 25, carpenter, b. VA
J. S. Moore, male, age 24, printer, b. TN
Frank Votare, age 24, carpenter, b. France
Susan D. Moore, age 21, b. Mich
Wm. B. Guinade, age 20, carpenter, b. TN
Frank Bass, age 22, carpenter, b. TN
Green Whitcomb, age 28, carpenter, b. VA
John Frost, age 24, carpenter, b. TN

A. S. Pledge was in Junction District, Junction P.O., Hh 19; age 49, farmer. Eliza, age 48
John A. Pledge, age 21, a M. Mason [master mason?], b. VA
Sarah E. Carter, age 20, b. VA
Francis M. age 14, b. VA [Franklin?]
George A., age 11, b. TN.
Also born in TN: Patrick H. 7 and Victoria 3.

Bolivar P.O., Junction District 1, Hardeman Co TN, Hh 26
Wm Pledge, age 37, M. Stone cutter [master stone cutter?], b. VA
Elvia, age 37, b. NC [William A. married Elvira Yancey, 1 Nov 1849, Fayette Co TN]
Olivia J. age 8 and Wm. W. age 2, b. TN
Sylvanus Kirkpatrick, age 22, stone cutter, b. Ohio
Philip Kelly, age 18, apprentice to stone, b. Ireland

Note: There is an interesting connection. Elvira Jane Yancey who married William Pledge was the daughter of Joel Chandler Yancey, b. 1784 in Granville Co, NC, died 1851, Fayette Co, TN. Her older sister, Penelope Caroline, married Abraham McCauley, 8 May 1834, Orange Co, NC. By 1840 the McCauleys were living in Tippah Co, MS near my ancestor, Delitha Hays - Abraham, like Delitha, born in North Carolina.

Archer & Elizabeth are buried Grand Junction Cemetery, Hardeman Co, TN
The land on which Grand Junction Cemetery is located is said to have been donated by Archer and Mary Pledge in 1818. There is a sign so stating at the entrance to the Cemetery The Pledge family built the "Commercial Hotel" in Grand Junction in 1858, the same year Archer died. One of the oldest streets in Grand Junction, TN is named Pledge.
Find A Grave Memorial# 54874053
There is a conflict - it's likely that the Pledge family wasn't in Tennessee that early. There are several other errors in the post on FindAGrave.

Birth	1 Jan 1782	Goochland County, Virginia
Marriage	14 Dec 1809	Goochland County, Virginia - Mary Elizabeth Garthwright
Death	3 Jun 1858	Hardeman County, Tennessee

Spouse	Mary Elizabeth Garthwright (1790 - 1864)
Child	Archer Smith Pledge (1812 - )
Child	Elizabeth Pledge (1816 - 1855)
Child	Francis Lanier Pledge (1819 - 1895)
Child	William Archie Pledge (1823 - 1896)
Child	Millora S. "Milly" Pledge (1828 - 1878)

Father	Archer Pledge (1747 - 1806)
Mother	Ann "Nancy" Woodson (1755 - )
Sibling	Ann Pledge ( - )
Sibling	William Pledge ( - )
Sibling	Elizabeth W Pledge ( - )
Sibling	Francis Pledge ( - )